Good American at Sele: Common Yellowthroat!!

 Yesterday I missed the Common Yellowthroat, I was only few seconds too late. The bird was found by Eirik Adolfsen in the beautiful (rarity) garden in Sele on Øygarden. On Friday it was only seen by three lucky birders (including Eirik). Today (on Saturday) we were with some 40 birders and had to wait until 11:15 before the bird was found back. It had presumably been in the garden all the time. It was very skulky. I saw it two times in my binoculars very briefly, but recognizable with its yellow throat.

Further there a Siberian Chiffchaff, three Common Chiffchaffs, a few Goldfinches, at least three Blackcaps and some crossbills flying by...

1cy male Common Yellowthroat. Photo by Erik Adolfsen with permission

two hours after discovery with Eirik Adolfsen looking at the camera

waiting on Saturday morning

🎤 Siberian Chiffchaff

hybrids at Tveitevannet

 Took a stroll with Hickman at Tveitevannet. Always some 50 or more large gulls during winter there. The Iceland gull wasn't there, but the possible Nelson's Gull (hybrid between Herring and Glaucous Gull) was still present as well as a hybrid Wood Duck/Mallard.

Otherwise my first Hawfinch of the autumn at Christie Park, a nice flock with Blue Tits, Long-tailed Tits and a Common Chiffchaff on the other side of Tveitevannet. Also flyby group of some type of crossbills I couldn't put a name on...

Nelson's Gull?

hybrid Wood Duck/Mallard

1cy Herring Gull

2cy Herring gull, beginning to moult to 2nd winter

Crossbills

 Today a late autumn visit to Herdlevær. Typical late autumn with few birds. 10 Goldfinches and groups of crossbills made the day. I had two times Parrot Crossbills, one group of Common Crossbills and a group of ca 25 birds I don't know for sure and better be left unidentified...

🎤 Parrot Crossbill

🎤 European Goldfinch

🎤 European Crested Tit

glaucoides

 Always some white-winged gulls in Bergen in the dark side of the year. This Iceland Gull is staying at the Tveitevannet. When I was there today, it was the only gull present. Nice fresh plumage as northern breeders usually have in this time of the year...

First calendar year Iceland Gull

quiet Herdla

 Had a round at Herdla in quiet autumn weather. It was very quiet. The group of Barnacles was still present. Otherwise four Slavonian Grebes and a few scoters. At Herdla fort at least five Parrot Crossbills...

female Parrot Crossbill

Golden Plover

Barnacle Geese

Hernar

 At last I could visit Hernar again after a few years.. and I was not alone, Both Terje Hansen, Jørn Opsal and Frode Falkenberg joined. Together we had a few hours on the island. Many birds, but we struggled finding a good bird. However, a Lesser Whitethroat showed itself a few times. It had signs of on of the eastern taxa, showing quite pale sandy colours on the back and neck. Besides it had rather a lot of white in the outermost tail feather, an important feature in 1st cy birds (it had pointed tail feathers) and rather short wings. Sadly it didn't call. Lesser Whitethroat taxa are extremely difficult to identify, so I think we let this bird unidentified...

Further four Waxwings, a flyby Snow Bunting, a few Water Rails, Parrot Crossbills, Goldfinches and load of Wrens and Robins. A group of seven Western Jackdaws is also worth mentioning.

first cy Lesser Whitethroat. one of the Siberian taxa?

tristis and more YBW

 Yesterday a calling Yellow-browed Warbler in my garden and today one on Turøy. But better was a Siberian Chiffchaff on the island, which was calling good (almost echoing against the stonewall at Måsvatnet). Saw the bird briefly, looking good for tristis. Khaki colours on the upper part, no green visible on the head and upper parts, pallid eyebrow and a thin wing bar along the greater coverts. The feet and bill gave also a very dark impression. But as said, I saw it briefly and it didn't show again, surely afraid of a hunting Sparrowhawk...call is diagnostic, I would say!

Further flyby Goldfinches, Common Crossbills, Grey-headed Woodpecker and a few Bullfinches...At least one bird in the group of crossbills sounded like a Parrot Crossbill in my ears...

🎤 Siberian Chiffchaff

🎤 Siberian Chiffchaff

🎤 Parrot Crossbill

female Grey-headed Woodpecker

a week in the Netherlands

 I spent a week on the wadden island of Schiermonnikoog with my family. Lots of birding. Best bird was found by my brother Sybrand at the Eemshaven (not on the island...). A fantastic Arctic Warbler. I saw it on the last day og our holliday. It was easily found, because it called in the early morning. It showed itself quite good every now and then...

Further on the island lots of birds: Grey Wagtails, Firecrests and one or three Yellow-browed Warblers among my favorites. Saw some Shore Larks on the beach and two Caspian Gulls being nice also. Best birds on the island however were a (distant) Black-winged Kite and a Blyth's Reed Warbler...

nice Arctic Warbler

🎤 Arctic Warbler

🎤 Arctic Warbler

Great Egret

Black-headed Gull

Sanderling

Northern Shoveler

🎤 Barnacle Goose

🎤 Great Spotted Woodpecker

🎤  Western Jackdaw

🎤 Long-tailed Tit

🎤 Dunnock

🎤 Grey Wagtail

Pipits in the storm

 There are Red-throated-  and Richard's Pipits on Herdla. Since I couldn't join yesterday I tried today. I was all alone and it were bad weather conditions with hard wind and rain. Romantic!

I saw Red-throated Pipit (could well be two birds), two Richard's Pipits, Dark-bellied Brant, Pink-footed Goose, Gadwall and six Jack Snipes. But as said, the conditions were very bad, so I couldn't manage pics, but I sound recorded (one of) the Red-throated Pipit(s). Sorry for the bad quality (use headphones!)...

🎤 Red-throated Pipit

🎤 Red-throated Pipit

Dip TBGW on Fedje

On Saturday a Two-barred Greenish Warbler was reported from Fedje. That one I had to try, but I couldn't go before today. It was gone together with the seven or so Yellow-browed Warblers also present.

A Little Bunting, which was present today as well as yesterday showed nice, albeit at a distance...

On Utsira they had A Grey-cheeked Thrush and a Red-eyed Vireo and further south in Norway a Swainson's Thrust was caught. Wrong island today...?

windfull day , almost no birds

 30.09. In the field. Disappointing with almost no birds. Only another Yellow-browed Warbler on Turøy, which I sound recorded...

🎤 Yellow-browed Warbler

Buff-breasted Sandpiper on Herdla

 It was ten years ago I saw my last Buff-breasted Sandpiper. So I was glad that this year's bird was still present on it's third day on Herda. All the waders were flying around a lot and it was not easy to find it back, but I saw the bird well. Photographing it was another story...

Further still good numbers of waders (mostly Golden Plover, Ruff, Dunlin, with six Grey Plovers). Otherwise quiet.

first calendar year Buff-breasted Sandpiper

half an hour at Flesland gård

 Quick afternoon check at Flesland gård. Very quiet, but it is a very good place to see and hear Yellowhammer. Always some birds around, especially after the breeding season. Sometimes up to 30 birds!

Herdlevær again

 Today quiet at Herdlevær, but I had to try after yesterday's bad-weather front. Anyhow, a pleasant walk with the YBW still present, a calling Snow Bunting and a flyby Jay...Sometimes I have difficulties hearing the difference between calling Snow Bunting and Lapland Longspur. I think on the recording below you can hear the more soft tone of the whistle and the friendlier rattle which is typical for Snow Bunting. Lapland Longspur would sound harder and the rattle is more harsh...

🎤 Snow Bunting (use headphones!)

Good 21st of September

 Did Herdlevær and Turøy today. Although there were not many birds about, the day delivered some good birds. At Herdlevær my first Yellow-browed Warbler of the autumn was present, as well as a Ring Ouzel. Otherwise quiet with Coal Tits, three Great Spotted Woodpeckers(!) and some thrushes and Meadow Pipits.

At Turøy the Rosy Starling was still present. It was at first difficult to find, but it stayed in one garden in the afternoon. Further a Wryneck with was chased away by a Wren (who else😊),  a Treecreeper, some Coal Tits and Goldcrests.

first calendar Rose-coloured Starling

🎤 Yellow-browed Warbler

Mallard at Milde

Saw this Mallard at Milde, very tame...I wonder if it is a influenza victim...further there a flyby Grey Wagtail.

1cy female Mallard. Could almost touch it. Inluenza (HPAI)H5N1?

Herdla again, another Citrine!!

 Beautiful weather, less birds on Herdla today. I saw a Citrine Wagtail again, but this time it was a juvenile/first winter. It had no yellow and a very pronounced head pattern with a dark border above the eyebrow and the cheeks were surrounded by white. In the field I was convinced it was a young bird and thus another one than the adult present before in august. But of course I was puzzled, because there had been an adult in the same area, often feeding on the same spot prior to this bird; could it be worn, so that the yellow in the feathers on the underparts was gone due to wear? But adult birds have a complete post-breeding moult, so that would seem strange to happen so early in the season. 

Young birds undergo a partial moult when they change from juvenile to first-winter plumage. These birds moult their body and some wing coverts. The tertials of my bird look a bit abraded, but the coverts seem quite fresh. This contrast fits a young bird better than an adult...Also the pattern of the greater coverts with their dark centers contrasting sharp with the white tips fits young birds better than adults (which have less contrasting borders in this pattern). I sound-recorded the bird today too...

Although I initially was puzzled, I think that today's bird is young (and thus a different) one. I will submit this sighting to the local rarities committee and I hope they will agree. This bird being a different one, I could count it as an edelkryss...

Further quiet, but there were still two Wood Sandpipers present, which were singing and two beautiful, juvenile Spotted Redshanks were present as well as a young Curlew Sandpiper.

1k Citrine Wagtail. Lacking yellow and the head pattern is typical of a 1k

1k Spotted Reshank. One of the two birds present today

🎤 Citrine Wagtail

🎤 Spotted Redshank

Citrine seen and (even better) heard on Herdla

 Saw the female Citrine Wagtail this morning on Herdla. Heard it calling and saw it distantly through the telescope, short and it flew away before I could get closer. But I managed to record the call😃

The time of the year is very good for waders. Five Temmincks Stints, one Little Stint, still five Black-tailed Godwits and two Wood Sandpipers being best. Further around 200 Ruff, a few Bar-tailed Godwits and the like.

         young Wood Sandpiper, born this year

islandica Black-tailed Godwit. Same bird as on Wednesday, wonder if it is ill

Temminck's Stint, young bird

🎤 Citrine Wagtail

🎤 Temminck's Stint

🎤 White Wagtail

Waders, but no Citrine...

 Tried for the Citrine Wagtail on Herdla today. Although it was seen by Egil and Laila Frantzen just before I came, I failed to see it...

Well, enough waders about to enjoy being there anyhow. Best birds a distant flyby Spotted Redshank, a Wood Sandpiper, 11 Black-tailed Godwits (I presume islandica...) and otherwise the usual suspects with still a Yellow Wagtail present.

juvenile Dunlin

                                              juvenile Black-tailed Godwit, islandica I guess; quite rufous on the neck 

                                                                        and breast and not a very long bill

🎤 Temminck's Stint

🎤Dunlin

Eurasian Curlew at Flesland gård

 Tried for Herdla today, but the bridge to the island was closed😑. Had to turn and visited Flesland gård in stead. There the Eurasian Curlew was still present. Further quiet with two migrating Tree Pipits and two Linnets worth mentioning. No other waders...

juvenile Eurasian Curlew (clearly visible notches on the scapulars and terials, as well as short bill)

Marvellous seawatch

 This morning I spent three hours at Geitingneset at Herdlevær for a seawatch. Terje Hansen, Laila and Egil Frantzen were already there when I came. Winds came from the southwest and were moderate. These circumstances delivered very good numbers of shearwaters. I saw 10 Sooty Shearwaters (new for my Norwegian list and thus for Hordaland as well) and 29 Manx Shearwaters with a group of 16 birds together!!!

Terje Hansen did spend a few hours more and saw over 100 shearwaters!! Further worth mentioning were 4 Ruddy Turnstones, a adult Black-headed Gull and seven Twites

Waders on the move

 The last few days I visited Herdla twice. Visiting the wetland in august always deliveres a boost to the "yearlist". Indeed a nice variety of waders present. Best being a group of 16 Black-tailed Godwits (islandica I presume), a Temmincks Snipe, Spotted Redshank, Wood Sandpiper and Red Knot. Today I saw a flyby Little Ringed Plover (at least I thought so), calling briefly, sounding good for that species and showing plain wings without white wing bars. I couldn't find it back, so let it be...

Further the first Barnacle Goose of the autumn, a Kestrel and a Peregrine 

Iceland

The last week of July I had a family trip to Iceland. Although it was primarily a family trip, I had the opportunity to do some birdwatching (as always). It was a successful trip, although Harlequin Duck was not easy (saw five, of which one from a driving car that couldn't stop at that place). Anyhow, I saw what I wanted to see and we did a short whale watching tour at Húsavik.

Most important birds were of course Harlequin Duck Histrionicus histrionicus and Barrow's Goldeneye Bucephala islandica. The Harlequin Duck cost me one-and-a-half hour to find at the famous spot where the Láxa rivers meets Myvatn (probably because they had young and spent time in the vegetation). Barrow's Goldeneye was easy with a few males still in breeding plumage.

Otherwise holds Iceland a few endemic taxa, most of which I did see. Black-tailed Godwit islandica, Merlin subaesalon, Wren islandicus and Snow Bunting insulae. Further loads of Atlantic Puffins, beautiful Great Northern Divers, Arctic and Great Skuas and quite a few Red-necked Phalaropes...

Mammals we saw were Humpback Whale, Grey Seal, Harbour Seal, Arctic Fox and Rabbit...

a

Harlequin Duck female with three ducklings

Barrow's Goldeneye male

Barrow's goldeneye male eclips

Barrow's Goldeneye female

Redwing coburni

Eider borealis

European Golden Plover

Great Northern Diver, which I heard sometimes

Slavonian Grebe

Myvatn

black beach with Robin at Vik

Jökullsarlon

Myvatn 

And below the sounds one hears all the time in the right habitat

🎤 Eurasian Whimbrel

                                                              🎤 European Golden Plover